GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

* ETHICS AND POLITICS: THE GREEKS
PL. Yes. For that was their task and their duty upon
earth.
PH. But It is earth with which we are now concerned.
And looking at earth might not a critic say of your
republic indeed many have said it that it is a
stereotyped herd, where no individual is pursuing
any real Good, whether philosophy, or science, or
art, or love, or even happiness, since the excellence
it has is not that of any class or member, but
consists entirely in the performance by each part
of its own function, in order that the Whole may
maintain and perpetuate itself.
PL. That Whole, I argued, would be both beautiful
and good.
PH. Yes. But to and for whom or what?
PL. I cannot tell you that, so long as -you insist that
we shall confine our survey to your earth.
PH. Let us nevertheless so confine it, as long as we can.
So confined, you would perhaps agree that the
Goods you held to be absolute, though they are
shown for a moment to your philosophers, are
shown only to be renounced in the cause of duty.
PL. I agree.
PH. I have a reason for pressing the point. For, in
my own time, there has come into vogue a kind
of parody of your view. The Whole men say
meaning what we call the State is the end and
the only end. To it individuals, generation after
generation, for ever and ever, should be subordinated.
They have no PL.
purpose or function other
than Its.
And Its? What is that?
PH. Itself! Its continued existence and,, growth in
power and extent. To It are attributed qualities
often ascribed to Deity. It is jealous; It is revenget
ful; It is merciless; It is violent; It is, or at least
should be, Almighty. To It belong, without
reservation, the wealth, the labour, the lives of